Lap-board



(No Model.)

W. L. LANGE.

LAP BUARD.

No. 322,942. Patelltedl July 2 8, 1885.`

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N. PETERS. Pnnmumogmpmr. wnmngm n4 c:

IINiTnD STATES PATENT @Trione W'ILLIAM L. LANCE, lOF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LAP-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,942, dated July 28, 1885.

Application tiled October 2, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: j

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LYMAN LANCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, (Germantowm) in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in lap-boards designed, principally, for use by ladies and others engaged in cutting and trimming garments, &c.; and my said invention consists of a lap-board composed, preferably, of separate strips of different kinds of wood,of a length and width suitable to form the board of the required size, united by bolts running transversely of their lengths through the several strips and riveted or otherwise fastened at their outside edges.

rlhe object of this invention is to form a simple yet light and durable lap-board that will not warp or soon become rough and unfit for use because thereof; and this is accomplished by forming the board of a number of separate strips of wood and uniting them together by bolts.

The different sections of wood, in addition to presenting a pleasing appearance, prevent the board curling or warping and breaking at the edges, while the bolts effectually prevent the board warping or breaking.

The usual manner of making lap-boards has been to form the same of one structure,united by a stiffeningpiece, secured transversely across the ends of the boards in a groove formed in the end of said board, or,when the board is composed of separate pieces or strips, by a brace secured upon the under side of the same. The objections to these forms is the difficulty and expense of making and securing the dovetailed end brace-pieces, and because of their being held in place solely by glue, which is affected by moisture and heat, causing the separation of the parts, and as a consequence the said lap-board soon becomes useless. When braces extending along the under surface of the board are employed, they presentan unsightly appearance and are in the way, often injuring the clothing of the user, whereas a board constructed according to my invention presents a smooth, even, and pleasing appearance upon both sides, upon which the scales and lines of pattern-cutting or any other devices, pictures, letters, figures, advertisements, Snc., may be readily printed, and thereby greatly enhance the value of the board.

Referring to the drawings forming a part of this application, and in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, Figure l is a view of a lapboard constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the board adjacent one of the binding bolts or rods; Fig. 3, a detached view of one of the strips, showing the holes therein for the bolts; and Fig. 4 a detached view of a binding-bolt, showing the preferred form of the same.

AA are a series of thin narrow strips of wood, preferably of several different kinds,

placed with their edges abutting together andA having holes B extending transversely through them, as shown in Fig. 3. O is the binding bolt or rod, which, when the sections A of the board are placed in position, are run through the holes B and secured by nuts D at their ends. These bolts through their nuts securely bind and hold the several sections of the board together without the use of cement; but, if found necessary, the edges of the board may be cemented slightly. The head of the bolt is preferably of the form shown-that is, with aright-angled end, C', terminating in apoint, c, which enters the wood and prevents the bolts turning as the nuts are drawn up to bind the sections of the board together.

In making the board it has been found best to form the central portion of some light soft wood-such as pine, cypress, cedar, Sto.- While the inner strip, D', and outer strip, E, are of a hard wood-such as oak. rlhe object of this is to form a more securebearing for the binding-bolts,and at the same time strengthen the board and prevent wear at the place most subject to the same. Upon the surface,one or both, of the board is stamped a scale or yardmeasure, Y, extending longitudinally of the board, and at one end, at right angles to said yard-measure, is printed a foot-rule, F. Di-

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sent the bias-lines.

agonally across the board from a central point, g, are printed diagonal lines G, which repre- VVith these scales and lines on the board the value and usefulness of the article are greatly increased.

The board being smooth and even on both sides, no injury to the clothes of the user can result, and any advertisement, motto, or picture may be readily printed upon the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, its object, advantages, 8vo., what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A lap-board composed of aseries of narrow strips of Wood secured together by rods or 15 seat for the binding-bolt heads and protect` 2o the board from injury at the points most subjected to the sanne, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereby afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

W. L. LANCE. Vitnesses:

WM. H. BRERETON, A. H. NoRRIs. 

